BYD Company Ltd and Toyota Motor Corporation announced that they have signed an agreement for the joint development of battery electric vehicles. The two parties will jointly develop sedans and low-floor SUVs as well as the onboard batteries for these vehicles and others with the aim to launch them in the Chinese market under the Toyota brand in the first half of the 2020s.

Going forward, BYD and Toyota will make use of the electrified vehicles, and battery development technologies they have acquired through their market introductions and will work together to further develop BEVs that are attractive to customers and in further promoting their widespread adoption

BYD was founded in 1995 as a battery business and has grown into a total energy solution company, manufacturing not only electrified vehicles but other products such as large-size energy storage cells. The company name BYD stands for “Build Your Dreams” and core parts for electrified vehicles such as batteries, motors and power electronics are among the products that BYD develops in-house. In 2008, BYD became the first company in the world to sell mass production of plug-in hybrid electrified vehicles (PHEVs). Since 2015 onwards, BYD’s sales of BEVs and PHEVs have been ranked first in the world for four consecutive years.

In 1997, Toyota became the first company in the world to launch mass production hybrid electrified vehicles (HEVs). Since then, it has become a pioneer of electrified vehicle development, and accumulated a rich array of technologies and experience in the development, production, and sales of electrified vehicles.

Toyota City, Japan, July 19, 2019?BYD Company Ltd. (BYD) and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced today that they have signed an agreement for the joint development of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The two parties will jointly develop sedans and low-floor SUVs as well as the onboard batteries for these vehicles and others with the aim to launch them in the Chinese market under the Toyota brand in the first half of the 2020s.

The world’s leading supplier of automotive all-wheel drive and electric driveline technology and systems, GKN Automotive, will this month deliver its one millionth eDrive system. Demand for GKN Automotive’s expanding eDrive portfolio, which encompasses a range of driveline technologies for electrified vehicles, has increased markedly over recent years. The company currently has five major eDrive mass production projects in progress in China and Europe.

Mr Hannes Prenn, COO of GKN Automotive ePowertrain, commented that “It is always a proud moment when GKN Automotive reaches a significant production milestone, and this one is particularly significant as it underlines our leadership in the fast-growing eDrive segment. The strength and breadth of our current eDrive order book is a testament to our heritage of eDrive innovation, development and integration, as well as our ability to meet the exacting quality and production targets set by our customers.”

GKN Automotive has pioneered advanced eDrive technologies since 2002, developing experience of systems integration and production that is unmatched in the industry. The knowledge began with transmissions, then eMotor and transmission systems, through to fully integrated motor, gearbox and inverter systems. GKN Automotive’s eDrive experience is proven by its support of numerous OEMs with their evolving line-ups of electrified vehicles, including BMW, Mitsubishi, Porsche and Volvo.

EUR 100 million investment in Electric Car Battery Production Heading to Slovakia

TASR reported that Slovak company InoBat has signed a contract with US firm WildCat Discovery Technologies on cooperation in developing and producing batteries for the automotive industry, InoBat’s co-founder and executive director Mr Marian Bocek and WildCat Discovery Technologies President Mark Gresser told a news conference in Bratislava on Friday with European Commission Vice-president Maros Sefcovic and European Investment Bank Vice-president Vazil Hudak in attendance.

Investment in development and constructing the production line should cost EUR 100 million. Construction of a battery-production plant in Slovakia should start in the second quarter of 2020, with battery production launched by the end of 2021. Around 1,500 batteries will be manufactured annually at first, but the plan is to boost this 150,000 batteries eventually.

Mr Bocek said that “The patented technology will serve carmakers from Central and Eastern Europe, and I believe it has the potential to kickstart an electric car battery revolution across Europe adding that the plant might be situated in western Slovakia. Details of this will be announced in a couple of weeks.”

Mr Gresser said that “We’re pleased that Wildcat’s breakthrough research technology has found a place in Central and Eastern Europe thanks to this strategic cooperation. In cooperation with InoBat and in fact with the entire region, we’ll be able to maintain top place in new battery development … We’ll guarantee technological relevance, not to mention the creation of new jobs over the next few decades.”

According to the two officials, the joint project is a reaction to a call by the European Commission, which set the goal of achieving technological independence and improving lagging car battery production in Europe.

InstaVolt has begun construction of its 400th rapid charger, making it the UK’s largest owner-operated network of rapid electric vehicle chargers in the UK. Work has started on the milestone station, which can be found at KFC on the A460, Cannock. InstaVolt’s Chief Financial Officer Mr Adrian Keen says it’s testament to the popularity of its chargers among drivers and landlords alike.

InstaVolt was the first company in the UK to launch as a ‘fully open’ tap to pay network, meaning drivers don’t need a subscription, membership or RFID card to pay.

Since its inception, all of InstaVolt’s chargers have worked by drivers simply tapping their contactless credit or debit card to pay – something the Government has recently said that all networks should offer by next Spring. Drivers can even use their smart watch or phone to pay if it’s set up for contactless payments.

The simple approach has been welcomed by drivers across the country. In a Zap-Map survey last year, InstaVolt was the top public network that can be used by multiple models of electric vehicle, with particular praise for its ease of use.

Mr Adrian Keen said that “We put the customer experience at the heart of everything we do. It’s proven a popular formula for landowners who want to cater for the rise in electric vehicles on the roads, without making the necessary capital outlay or worrying about how to operate and maintain the hardware.”

Taycan production could surge to 40,000 a year, beating 911Porsche model is key for Volkswagen’s electric-car shift

Porsche’s iconic 911 sports car, which shaped the German brand’s luxurious appeal for decades, may soon be eclipsed by the battery-powered Taycan in terms of deliveries.

Just over a month before its official unveiling in September, Porsche has already amassed deposits for nearly 30,000 Taycans, and the early haul supports plans to lift annual production of the brand’s first all-electric model to 40,000 vehicles, Evercore ISI analyst Arndt Ellinghorst said Monday in a note.

With Porsche delivering 35,600 911s last year, the Taycan -- to be priced at roughly $90,000 -- could zoom past the combustion-era hero to define the brand for the next generation.

Success of the Taycan is critical for parent company Volkswagen AG to boost the appeal of electric cars as it prepares for a rollout of battery-powered vehicles across all price ranges. The Taycan’s arrival could also pose a fresh challenge to Tesla Inc.’s Model S, a key vehicle for Elon Musk’s effort to make the electric-car leader profitable.

Tesla hasn’t detailed plans to overhaul its successful Model S luxury sedan that’s been on sale since 2012, betting on the Model 3 to target mass-market buyers instead. While sales have risen, the car’s lower returns have seen Tesla’s losses accelerate to cast fresh doubt on whether building and selling electric cars can be a sustainably profitable business.

Tesla’s bid to expand outside the U.S. “is essentially a down-market push that will exacerbate eroding gross margin,” Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Kevin Tynan said in a note. The California-based firm is at risk of trading in a strong domestic position “to scrap with local rivals in foreign markets.”

Porsche has taken a page from Tesla’s playbook. Customers can register as a prospective Taycan buyer by placing a 2,500-euro deposit, which gets deducted from the final purchase price. To help drive uptake, Porsche is installing fast chargers at dealerships in the U.S. and Europe that will load the Taycan’s battery with enough power to drive as far as 100 kilometers (62 miles) in four minutes. The car’s total range on a single charge stands at 500 kilometers.

Opening Day Of The 89th Geneva International Motor ShowPorsche 911 CarreraPhotographer: Stefan Wermuth/BloombergPorsche set an initial production target of 20,000 vehicles per year, based on a two-shift system, but that can be expanded if needed, production chief Albrecht Reimold told reporters last year.

The company has been rapidly building up capacity in recent months. For the 1,500 new hires needed to produce the Taycan, Porsche said Monday that it has recruited nearly 1,000 so far after receiving some 32,000 applications. The training process for the electric-car assembly lasts as long as six months.

MG Motor UK has smashed its new car pre-sales records by securing 1,000 orders for its sensational MG ZS EV in just two weeks. Having officially launched the car to the press and public on 17th July, MG has experienced unprecedented demand as customers raced to be one of the first 1,000 retail customers to snap up the high-tech electric SUV from just GBP 21,495. The first 1,000 retail customers were able to benefit from the sensational £21,495 launch price after MG matched the government’s GBP 3,500 plug-in car grant with a GBP 3,500 MG Grant of its own. MG is pleased to announce that the next 1,000 retail customers will also receive the MG Grant, ensuring that the GBP 21,495 launch price will continue. The first 1,000 customers also received a complimentary home charging unit an offer which will not be continuing ensuring that those who were quick off the mark secured the best deal.

Positioned as the first affordable, family-friendly electric car, the ZS EV looks set to revolutionise the way people view zero-emissions motoring. With a WLTP-accredited range of 163 miles, the high-tech MG Pilot driver assistance suite, room for five and a full-sized boot, the ZS EV is a real-world electric car for real-world people. Capable of producing 300,000 EV batteries per year, MG’s own battery factory is ready to quickly fulfil this exceptional demand, with the first customers taking delivery of their electric MGs in September 2019.

ZS EV majors on interior space, making it ideal for busy families and those who value practicality. Boasting some of the most generous shoulder, leg and headroom in its class, the ZS EV also features a substantial, full-sized boot. With hidden storage areas, a split-level boot and practical features to keep items secure on the move, ZS EV can handle bikes, pushchairs, luggage and bulky loads with no trouble at all. In the cabin, the sky really is the limit with the panoramic, sliding Sky Roof offering uninterrupted access to the sunshine above, creating a bright and airy experience for the whole family.

The battery electric Mercedes-Benz eActros is in operation at logistics company Logistik Schmitt, located near Rastatt in southern Germany. Practical testing of the all-electric heavy-duty truck has been carried out in the region over the course of several years now and, as part of this, comparative drives with the eWayBW catenary project are also planned to take place in the Murg valley and surrounding areas. The official handover of the eActros to Logistik Schmitt took place at the beginning of the year as part of the Daimler Trucks annual press conference in Gaggenau.

The 25-tonne vehicle commutes between the warehouse facility of Logistik Schmitt in Ötigheim and Rastatt’s Mercedes-Benz Gaggenau plant approximately seven kilometres away. Logistik Schmitt uses the eActros instead of a conventional diesel truck for the transportation of transmission housings. In doing so, the eActros with its range of up to 200 kilometres, covers a daily distance of approximately 168 kilometres as part of a demanding 3-shift operation.

Experience with the eActros so far strengthens aim of Mercedes-Benz Trucks: Start of series-production from 2021 onwards

As part of the eWayBW project, the transport of goods on the B462 near Rastatt will be partially electrified, whereby diesel-hybrid catenary trucks will be tested. In parallel to this, tests of the eActros will take place by way of comparison with the catenary project. As part of this testing, a further-developed version of the eActros with higher payload capacity and greater range will be used.

London EV Company is delighted to announce it has produced 2,500 examples of its all-new TX electric taxi and the vehicles are already making a huge contribution to reducing urban emissions in London, cities across the UK and in Europe too. Marking this very special milestone at an event in Trafalgar Square, LEVC displayed the 2,500th TX to have been built by its state-of-the-art factory in Ansty, Coventry, where more than GBP 500m has been invested by parent company GEELY into developing and manufacturing the world’s most advanced taxi since 2014.

The cabs have proved a major hit with drivers, passengers and cities alike thanks in no small part to the technology that lies underneath the re-imagined, yet still iconic bodywork: the TX eCity range extender powertrain, which allows the taxi to run in full electric mode for up to 80 miles, slashing emissions and driver running costs and giving passengers a quieter and more soothing ride.

The numbers speak for themselves. Combined, the cabs have prevented 6,800 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere the same as 1,500 return flights from London to Sydney and they’ve reduced NOx emissions, the major contributor to poor urban air quality, by 99.5% over the previous taxi.

They have also travelled a combined distance of 21 million miles, the equivalent of driving around the world 845 times – or 45 trips to the Moon and back – and have dramatically cut fossil fuel usage, preventing 850,000 litres of fuel from being pumped, saving drivers a total of GBP 3.85 million or around GBP 100 per week each compared to running the old diesel cab.

Tata Power and Tata Motors announce their partnership to install 300 fast charging stations by the end of the FY20, across key five cities namely Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Today, both companies inaugurated their first 7 charging stations in Pune, to enable the e-mobility drive in the city. Over the next two months, 45 more chargers will be installed across the other four cities. These chargers will be installed at Tata Motors dealerships, certain Tata Group retail outlets and other public locations.

The chargers will be operated by Tata Power and will adhere to Bharat Standard (15 kW) for the initial 50 chargers. Going forward, we will also have charging stations that will adhere to 30-50 kW DC CCS2 Standard. These chargers can be accessed by any electric vehicle user, having cars compatible to the above charging standards. Tata Power and Tata Motors have jointly developed an attractive charging tariff for Tata Motors EV customers.

Tata Power’s current EV infrastructure presence in Mumbai is 42 charging points and its mobility infrastructure footprint is in multiple cities including Hyderabad, Bangalore and Delhi with a total of 85 charging points set up across various usage scenarios. The company has signed landmark MoUs for setting up commercial scale EV charging stations at HPCL, IOCL, and IGL retail outlets. The company also partnered with Tata Motors earlier to support Maharashtra Government’s vision of promoting e-mobility in the State by setting up public EV charging stations.

A second version of the Audi e-tron charged with opening up the benefits of the first fully electric Audi to a wider audience has been confirmed for series production and will launch in the UK in 2020. The Audi e-tron 50 quattro will complement the existing e-tron 55 quattro model, its 71 kWh battery and two electric motors providing for a range of up to 186 miles according to the WLTP test cycle and its 120kW charging capability facilitating recharging to 80 per cent capacity in around 30 minutes at fast-charging stations.

A product of the carbon-neutral Audi Brussels plant, the e-tron 50 quattro combines a high level of efficiency with strong and instantly accessible performance. Like the versions which came before it, the entry-level model also features ‘e-quattro’ all-wheel-drive delivered by an electric motor mounted on each axle in this application these generate a combined total of 230 kW and 540 Nm (398.3 lb-ft) of torque, and are capable of propelling the electric SUV from 0 to 62mph in 7.0 seconds on the way to an electronically governed top speed of 118mph. In order to achieve the highest efficiency, only the rear electric motor is active in most driving situations, while the front electric motor is activated predictively when needed. The regulation of the electric all-wheel drive is extremely fast, highly connected and very precise. In combination with modern suspension components including air suspension and the e-tron’s low centre of gravity, it provides excellent dynamics and stability.

The battery unit of the Audi e-tron 50 quattro comprises 324 prismatic cells combined in 27 modules. These store up to 71 kWh of energy, which is delivered via a newly calibrated drivetrain and a high voltage system featuring additional optimisations for this application, and facilitate a range of up to 186 miles in the WLTP cycle.

The lower gross weight, which also reduces running resistance, contributes to efficiency, as does the advanced thermal management system with its standard thermal pump. This system regulates the temperature of the interior as well as the battery and cools the electric motors, the power electronics and the charger. In this way it ensures that the high-voltage components enjoy a long service life and enables fast charging with direct current.

The Audi e-tron 50 quattro can charge with up to 120 kW at fast-charge stations, meaning that the energy capacity of the electric SUV can be restored to 80 per cent of its maximum in approximately half an hour. Alternatively, the battery can be supplied with alternating current via a home wallbox. For charging at home, the Audi e-tron 50 quattro is equipped with the compact charging system as standard. It supports a charging capacity of up to 2.3 kW with a 230 volt domestic outlet and up to 11 kW when connected to a 400 volt industrial charge point.

The optional connect charging system, available later this year, adds smart charging functions such as off-peak charging, enabling customers to benefit from variable electricity rates by charging their Audi e-tron at more inexpensive times. In combination with a home energy management system, customers can benefit from additional advantages such as the option to charge with self-generated solar power if a home photovoltaic system is installed. Using the myAudi app, customers can control all charging processes and timers as well as pre-entry climate control via their smartphone.

Meritor announced it will supply key drivetrain components from its Blue Horizon™ advanced technologies brand for an electric urban bus developed by Alstom. Production for the manufacturer’s first orders of the all-electric Aptis buses for cities such as Paris and Strasbourg in France are scheduled to begin this summer.

Meritor front and rear drive steer axles, air disc brakes and an innovative right angle gear box will integrate directly into the differential to deliver power to wheel-ends from Alstom’s electric motor. These key drivetrain components are supplied by Meritor’s Blue Horizon advanced technology brand.

Mr TJ Reed, vice president Front Drivetrain and Electrification for Meritor said that “We developed a product solution in less than a year to support Alstom’s continued drive to make European cities cleaner with cutting-edge electrification systems for a rapidly expanding market. It also positions Meritor’s Blue Horizon products for further growth in a segment that will transform the industry.”

The front and rear Meritor axles are steerable to offer a narrow turning radius to increase the vehicle’s maneuverability and, according to Alstrom, create a smaller footprint on the road by 25% compared to conventional buses. With the axles placed at the outer ends of the vehicle, the Aptis bus enhances passenger comfort due to low floors and double doors, permitting smooth passenger flows and accessibility for wheelchairs and strollers.

The axles, using casted housings from Meritor’s joint venture foundry in Vénissieux, France, brakes from its Cwmbran, United Kingdom plant and gear boxes from its Steyr, Austria plant, will be assembled in Cameri, Italy. Final assembly of these electric buses will be done at Alstom’s production site in Hangenbieten, France, and deliveries are expected at the end of 2019.